French Fancied to Score at Least Twice versus Iceland

England let down everyone in its UEFA Euro 2016 knockout match against Iceland but one thinks that France will deliver the goods versus the rank outsider on Sunday.

It really is a miracle that Iceland has made it to the UEFA Euro 2016 quarter-final. The nation of just over 300,000 people has averaged only 35 per cent possession in its four UEFA Euro 2016 games, which is the lowest percentage of the 24 teams. Incredibly, Iceland has completed fewer UEFA Euro 2016 passes than any other side as well, even though the Icelanders have not played the fewest matches. Iceland’s journey is reaching the UEFA Euro 2016 last eight is a sensational story but it is a fluke. Remember, Iceland drew 1-1 against Portugal and Hungary in UEFA Euro 2016 Group F action and the Icelanders were heading for another 1-1 draw versus Austria before the Austrians committed suicide in search of a winning goal. And the less said about England and its performance in losing 1-2 to Iceland the better.

Admittedly, France has made heavy weather of qualifying for the UEFA Euro 2016 quarter-finals, relying upon late goals to beat Romania and Albania, drawing 0-0 against Switzerland and recovering from the concession of an early penalty-kick goal to defeat Ireland 2-1. Maybe the pressure of being the UEFA Euro 2016 home team has contributed to France’s fairly poor performances and maybe so have the selections of Didier Deschamps. Ngolo Kante was instrumental in Leicester’s shock English Premier League triumph but one gets the impression that France, particularly versus UEFA Euro 2016’s weakest last-eight participant, will be better off without him in its midfield. Konte, who gave way to Kingsley Coman at half time of France’s UEFA Euro 2016 last-16 win over Ireland, is banned after collecting his second yellow of the tournament.

One expects that France will be on the front foot throughout its UEFA Euro 2016 quarter-final against Iceland and one’s headline pick is over one and a half French goals at odds of 1.70Bet €100 to win €1707/10Bet £100 to win £170-143Bet $100 to win $1700.70Bet HK$100 to win HK$170-1.43Bet Rp100 to win Rp1700.7000Bet RM100 to win RM170  with Betfair, BoyleSports and Coral.

France has scored over one and a half goals in seven of its last eight games and 11 of its last 13 matches. Iceland has conceded over one and a half goals in seven of its last 10 games and, equally interestingly, it has only shut out the football minnows of Kazakhstan, Finland and Liechtenstein in its last 16 matches. Pundits are lining up to take pot shots at France’s defence but Iceland’s success has not been built on strong foundations given its dismal defensive numbers.

Iceland has rustled the onion bag in each of its last 13 matches so there will be plenty of punters who view both sides to score as a viable betting opportunity in its UEFA Euro 2016 quarter-final versus France. One is not going to join them but Iceland’s scoring statistics are enough to dissuade one from supporting France to win to nil. Better bets, in one’s humble opinion, are France to win by any score at odds of 1.45Bet €100 to win €1459/20Bet £100 to win £145-222Bet $100 to win $1450.45Bet HK$100 to win HK$145-2.22Bet Rp100 to win Rp1450.4500Bet RM100 to win RM145  with several bookmakers, including 888Sport and Unibet, and the under-pressure French to make the first substitution at odds of 1.92Bet €100 to win €19223/25Bet £100 to win £192-109Bet $100 to win $1920.92Bet HK$100 to win HK$192-1.09Bet Rp100 to win Rp1920.9200Bet RM100 to win RM192  with 188Bet.

France has made the first substitution in three of its four UEFA Euro 2016 games, with Deschamps changing up his team after 66 minutes against Romania, 46 minutes against Albania, 63 minutes against Switzerland and 46 minutes against Ireland. Iceland has made the first substitution in one of its four UEFA Euro 2016 matches, with Lars Lagerback and Heimir Hallgrimsson shuffling their side after 81 minutes versus Portugal, 66 minutes versus Hungary, 71 minutes versus Austria and 77 minuter versus England.

Tips Summary

Over 1.5 France Goals
Sunday 3rd July, 20:00 GMT
Odds: 1.70Bet €100 to win €1707/10Bet £100 to win £170-143Bet $100 to win $1700.70Bet HK$100 to win HK$170-1.43Bet Rp100 to win Rp1700.7000Bet RM100 to win RM170

France to beat Iceland
Sunday 3rd July, 20:00 GMT
Odds: 1.45Bet €100 to win €1459/20Bet £100 to win £145-222Bet $100 to win $1450.45Bet HK$100 to win HK$145-2.22Bet Rp100 to win Rp1450.4500Bet RM100 to win RM145

France to make the First Substitution
Sunday 3rd July, 20:00 GMT
Odds: 1.92Bet €100 to win €19223/25Bet £100 to win £192-109Bet $100 to win $1920.92Bet HK$100 to win HK$192-1.09Bet Rp100 to win Rp1920.9200Bet RM100 to win RM192